Compensation for vaccine-related harm

Verified 23 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You've had a harm from vaccination and you wonder about the compensation procedure (Oniam: titleContent or Conciliation and Compensation Commission or court)? The procedure varies depending on the character mandatory or simply recommended the vaccination which caused the harm. There is also compensation for vaccines related to a emergency health measure. We present you the regulations to know.

Mandatory vaccine

In case of damage related to a compulsory vaccination, you can initiate proceedings with theOniam: titleContent.

The procedure is free of charge.

It can be used to obtain redress swithout going through legal proceedings.

FYI  

The procedure before the Oniam is not not required before bringing the matter before the Administrative Court. So you can enter either the Oniam or the court.

The Health Insurance website lists the mandatory vaccinations:

Mandatory vaccines

Ameli.fr

Pour en savoir plus

FYI  

There is also a schedule of vaccinations.

The rules vary depending on the situation:

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Major

You can initiate proceedings to be compensated by Oniam.

Major protected

Person under guardianship, curatorship, safeguarding of justice

Person under guardianship, curatorship, safeguarding of justice

Supervision

It is the guardian who initiates the procedure with the Oniam.

Curatelle

The person under curatorship may act with the assistance of its curator. However, the judge may decide otherwise.

Safeguarding justice

The person placed under safeguarding justice shall act alone unless an agent is appointed for that act.

Minor

It is the holder of parental authority (e.g. the parent) of the minor who initiates proceedings before the Oniam.

Deceased person

The heirs may in particular initiate the procedure with the Oniam.

You must fill out a form:

Claim for compensation from Oniam (damage related to a mandatory vaccination)

The claim must be sent to Oniam by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) or deposited with the Oniam secretariat against receipt.

The contact details are indicated on the form.

Reminder

Do not forget to provide the supporting documents listed in the package leaflet.

Acknowledgement

Oniam acknowledges receipt of your request and analyses it. He can ask you to send additional documents and order, if necessary, an expert to determine the extent of the damage and specify the cause.

Information brought to your attention by Oniam

The establishment will inform you at least 15 days before the date of the examination:

  • The identity and titles of the doctor in charge of the expert mission
  • And of the mission of expertise entrusted to it.

It also informs you that you can be assisted by a person of your choice.

Role of the expert

This expert invites you to an expert meeting to conduct a review and hear your complaints.

The expert sends you his draft report. You then have 15 days to send him any comments you may have.

The expert shall send his report to Oniam within 3 months of the date of his appointment. This report includes the response to your comments.

Oniam is sending you the report. You again have 15 days to send Oniam any comments you may have.

Oniam covers the cost of the expert appraisals.

Please note

The silence of Oniam during a period of 6 months from the date of receipt of the dossier full means rejection of your request.

Oniam shall issue a reasoned decision on the compulsory nature of vaccination.

It may also decide on the following points:

  • Causal link between damage and vaccination
  • Extent of damage
  • Consolidation, or not, of your health.

If the damage is considered compensable, Oniam submits a offer of compensation by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

If you accept it, you make known your decision to accept Oniam's offer by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR).

From the receipt of your agreement, Oniam has1 month to pay you the amount of compensation.

Yes, you can communicate your decision to refuse by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR).

You can enter the administrative tribunal in whose jurisdiction your domicile is a claim for compensation. You have 2 months from the receipt of the decision to do so.

Recommended vaccine

In case of damage related to a recommended vaccine, the procedure does not engage with Oniam.

Indeed, the act of vaccination is a medical act whose harmful consequences can be compensated by several other remedies.

The possible remedies are those implemented in the event of a search for liability to seek compensation for damage related to a medical act.

You can:

Vaccine linked to an emergency health measure

In order to address public health risks, the Ministry of Health may have to take temporary health measures.

Oniam is then responsible for compensating the damage that occurred during the application of these emergency measures.

This concerns:

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